Mercury Pollution Prevention in Healthcare Initiative Erie County Department of Environment & Planning Western New York Healthcare Association Buffalo Sewer Authority Funding provided by USEPA Region 5 Great Lakes National Program Office

Mercury Pollution Prevention in Healthcare Initiative A two year, technical assistance mercury pollution prevention implementation project. Goal: To partner with four area hospitals to develop, implement and measure the success of mercury pollution prevention and reduction strategies tailored to the specific needs of each facility.

Why four hospitals? A Pilot Study The four participating hospitals were representative of the larger entities and therefore, provided efficient dissemination of both the project results and further participation. Project results serve as local case studies to be used within and between the county, state, catholic and private systems.

Primary Objectives: 1. Eliminate mercury from healthcare waste stream 2. Phase out mercury products Mercury Pollution Prevention in Healthcare Initiative

Why Mercury in Healthcare Facilities? Intentional use of mercury has been declining since the early 1970s, however, medical facilities continue to have a high rate of usage. Where is Mercury found in a hospital? Everywhere!

Mercury in Healthcare Facilities Medical Uses thermometers sphygmomanometers esophageal dilators Cantor tubes & Miller Abbott tubes feeding tubes dental amalgam laboratory chemicals (fixatives, stains, reagents) medical batteries

Mercury in Healthcare Facilities Non-Medical Uses pressure gauges non-electronic thermostats some electrical switches for lights & appliances fluorescent lamps & high intensity lamps batteries cleaning solutions

Benefits to Participants Reduces occupational exposure & releases to the environment; Minimizes costs associated with use e.g. disposal, recycling, spill response, environmental & employee liability; Avoids increased regulation in the future; Enhances public image: preventative medicine for public health. Mercury P2

The Work Plan outreach to Safety Committee employee thermometer exchanges outreach via newsletter, webpage, display participation in safety demos and information events Phase I Mercury Awareness & Education

The Work Plan inventoried mercury products in use evaluated current handling & disposal methods assessed current policies identified & evaluated alternative products Phase II Identified Current Mercury Use & Storage

commitment to U.S. EPA/AHA Memorandum of Understanding recommendations for mercury- free products cost analysis for replacing mercury products Phase III Established Goals & Policies The Work Plan

timetable for replacement identified non-replaceable mercury items (e.g. fluorescent lighting) Phase III Established Goals & Policies The Work Plan

eliminated mercury-containing products established purchasing policies continued staff education Phase IV Implementation The Work Plan

determined reductions in mercury products purchased departmental assessment survey Phase V Measure Success: Determine Total Mercury Reduction Achieved The Work Plan

Mercury P2 Results Employee Awareness & Education An overview of the mercury pollution prevention program was presented to department managers at a Safety Committee meeting

Mercury P2 Results Employee Awareness & Education Newsletter submissions & Intranet postings provided employees with background information on mercury pollution and were used to introduce & update the program.

Mercury P2 Results Employee Awareness & Education Thermometer exchanges offered employees an opportunity to trade their household mercury fever thermometers for a mercury-free thermometer. 949 thermometers were collected from hospital employees

Mercury P2 Results Employee Awareness & Education The employee education inservice carts now include information pertaining to mercury pollution prevention

Mercury P2 Results Thermometers eliminated mercury thermometers from patient care packages identified alternatives for isolation units discontinued use of mercury thermometers for patient care

Mercury P2 Results Thermometers phasing out mercury thermometers in laboratories Visiting Nurses Association no longer providing mercury thermometers to patients eliminated purchase of ~1,800 thermometers per year

Mercury P2 Results Sphygmomanometers replaced ~1,456 mercury sphygmomanometers with aneroid models will phase out use of the remaining units as well

Mercury P2 Results Gastrointestinal Tubes replaced mercury-weighted tubes with tungsten-weighted models eliminated purchase of ~930 tubes annually no longer use mercury esophageal dilators

Mercury P2 Results Dental Amalgam implemented recycling programs for amalgam waste (~5lbs. /year) no longer dispose amalgam as Regulated Medical Waste

Mercury P2 Results Fluorescent Lamps implemented programs to recycle spent fluorescent lamps eliminated fluorescents from the solid waste stream

Mercury P2 Results Batteries all batteries, mercury- containing and non-mercury diverted from the solid waste stream and collected for recycling

Other Accomplishments implemented lead foil recycling established or enhanced solid waste recycling programs established a relationship with Intervol to collect unused durable equipment, surgical supplies and surgical packaging for reuse

Mercury P2 Future Direction Continue to phase out remaining mercury products Eliminated future purchases Continue employee awareness & education Extend to other hospitals & facilities

P2 Pollution Prevention Solution to Pollution? Protection of the environment & preserving ecosystems are the most fundamental steps in preventing human illness.